Tallahassee murder suspect confesses after mom drops him off for police interview

One of the suspects in a fatal shooting outside a Tallahassee apartment complex made a full confession after his mom dropped him off to speak with police, according to newly released arrest reports.

Tallahassee police were dispatched Friday night to University Courtyard Apartments on South Adams Street, where they found a white Honda Accord with Alabama plates crashed into a black Kia SUV.

“The white Honda contained an adult male seated in the driver’s seat of the vehicle,” court records say. “The male was apparently deceased and had succumbed to a single gunshot wound to his head.”

Back story:

• Murder suspect blurts out in court: 'I wasn't the only person there'; TPD makes 2nd arrest
• Tallahassee police investigate homicide at student apartments; FAMU PD issues BOLO alert
• Two fatal shootings in Tallahassee in less than 12 hours - July 2020

Investigators noticed the license plate on the Honda was bent upward, appearing as though someone tried to quickly remove it but was unsuccessful. Officers canvassing the area found two pistols, body armor, a hat and packaged marijuana hidden in nearby woods.

TPD traced the Honda to Jacob Davis, 21, of Dothan, Alabama, and the Kia to the grandfather of the victim. Inside the Kia, they found the victim’s cellphone and text messages to Davis’ phone.

Davis and another man, Zatoriyan Gould, 20, were later arrested on charges of felony murder and armed robbery in the shooting. TPD has not identified the victim.

Court records say investigators traveled to Dothan on Sunday to locate Davis. After working with the Houston County deputies, Davis called and agreed to an interview with TPD at the Sheriff’s Office in Alabama.

“Davis arrived at the department and was driven by his mother,” court documents state. “(Investigators) contacted Davis outside the department and escorted him to an interview room.”

Detectives read him his Miranda rights, which he waived verbally and in writing. He initially said he traveled with someone named “Z” to Tallahassee the day before the shooting.

“ ‘Z’ was a friend of Davis and the purpose of their trip was to ‘smoke’ so Davis could move past a romantic breakup,” the report says. “Davis said he stayed with ‘Z’ at an Airbnb in Tallahassee. Davis told investigators he knew Z was involved in violent acts, to include robberies.”

He said ‘Z’ used his cellphone to set up a drug deal. The two of them — both armed with AR pistols — went to the apartment complex to meet with the victim, with Davis behind the wheel.

“Davis said he knew ‘Z’ was going to use the AR pistol to rob the victim,” the report says. “Davis said he did not intend for anyone to be shot. When asked why he needed a firearm, Davis said he had (it) to protect himself and ‘Z.’ ”

Victim tried to fight off robbers

Davis detailed the robbery, the shooting and his hasty efforts to cover it all up, according to court recrods. He said he got in the victim’s passenger side while Gould approached the driver’s side window and pointed an AR pistol at the victim. 

After Davis took the victim’s drugs, the victim threw his SUV into reverse. Davis jumped out and got back in his own car. Gould told him to get his gun. The victim tried to strike Gould with his vehicle but struck Davis’ car.

The victim got out of his SUV and into Davis’ car in an attempt to retrieve the drugs, according to the arrest report.

“ ‘Z’ and Davis pointed their AR pistols at the victim,” the report says. “Davis said ‘Z’ was the first to fire his gun at the victim. After Z fired, Davis said he fired his AR pistol but aimed above the victim’s head. Davis was adamant he did not shoot the victim.”

He said he was “concerned for the victim’s welfare” and tried to wake him without success. He told investigators that before the two of them fled, he took the drugs and vehicle registration from his car and tried to remove the license plate but couldn’t.

Davis said his cellphone was discarded after the murder, and he and Gould traveled back to Alabama together. Reports don’t specify how.

More:Murder suspect blurts out in court: 'I wasn't the only person there'

During his interview, he gave verbal and written permission for investigators to take a sample of his DNA. He also positively identified Gould as his cohort.

“Davis said he is afraid of ‘Z,’ ” the report says.

Gould is being held in the Coffee County, Alabama, jail while he awaits extradition to Tallahassee. Davis is being held without bond in the Leon County Detention Center.

On Tuesday, Davis continued to offer up facts of the case — in public, this time — during his first court appearance via closed circuit TV. He made the comments even after public defenders warned him at length not to talk about the case.

"I wasn't the only person there," he said.

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter.

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